The new magazine, published specifically for the holiday season, is a lifestyle-oriented consumer publication and is available exclusively in Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, and Star Market food stores. The magazines are expected to be available through the end of the year.

"Easy provides shoppers with the solutions they need to help make the busy holiday season less stressful and more festive," said Paul Gannon, Albertsons' e.v.p., marketing and food operations. "In addition to helping our customers with holiday planning, easy magazine will allow us to provide additional support to those in need this holiday season through a generous donation to America's Second Harvest food banks nationwide."

Easy magazine contains information and articles including recipes, holiday decoration and craft tips, celebration ideas, and dozens of special offers on holiday items.

Proceeds from the sale of each magazine will be donated to America's Second Harvest--The Nation's Food Bank Network. The company says it expects sales of the magazine to generate approximately $500,000 to support America's Second Harvest in its battle against hunger.

Easy magazine is just one component of the company's Traditions Made Easy holiday campaign--an integrated marketing program designed to make the hectic holiday season easier for Albertsons customers.

In addition to picking up a copy of easy in Albertsons, customers are encouraged to go to albertsons.com, jewelosco.com, acmemarkets.com, and shaws.com to find more detailed information and tips including holiday menus, recipes, video cooking tutorials, decorating ideas, holiday to-do lists, and e-Cards to send to friends and family.

The Traditions Made Easy campaign also showcases the company's partnership with allrecipes.com--the world's largest independent food site. Easy magazine contains more than 25 of the recipe provider's most popular holiday recipes. allrecipes.com also powers the recipes and meal planning solutions on Albertsons food store web sites, providing customers with access to more than 20,000 top-rated recipes, not only during the holidays, but all year long.

Albertsons operates approximately 2,500 stores in 37 states across the U.S. and employ approximately 240,000 associates. Its banners include Albertsons, Acme, Shaw's, Jewel-Osco, Sav-on Drugs, Osco Drug, and Star Markets, as well as Super Saver and Bristol Farms, which are operated independently.